What did Jesus say to Satan when He was tempted?
When the devil tempted Jesus in the Bible, he used Scripture to his advantage. In each of His replies, Jesus cited passages from the Scriptures. Allow me to share my thoughts on temptations and reactions. The words of Jesus are highlighted in red. Small capitals are used for quotations from the Old Testament. The words of the devil have been highlighted. It’s worth noting that Satan makes use of scripture as well. However, he intends to utilize it to fool others.
| HUNGER:Matthew 4:3-4, “And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘ If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’4 But He answered and said,“It is written, ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. ‘ “(Jesus quoted Deut. 8:3) | HUNGER:Luke 4:4, “And the devil said to Him,“If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”4 And Jesus answered him,“It is written,‘Man shall not live on bread alone. ‘”(Jesus quoted Deut. 8:3) |
| SAFETY:Matthew 4:6-7, “and said to Him, “ If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘ HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU ‘; and ‘ ONtheirHANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.‘ “7 Jesus said to him,“On the other hand, it is written,‘you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”(Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12 and Jesus quoted Deut. 6:16) | SAFETY:Luke 4:9-12, “And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, ‘ HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU, ‘ 11 and,‘ONtheirHANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 12 And Jesus answered and said to him,“It is said, ‘ you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”(Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12 and Jesus quoted Deut. 6:16) |
| WORSHIP: Matthew 4:9-10, “and he said to Him, ‘ All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’10 ‘Then Jesus said to him,“Go, Satan! For it is written,‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. ‘”(Jesus quoted Deut. 6:13) | WORSHIP:Luke 4:7-8, “ Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus answered him,“It is written, ‘ you shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only. ‘”(Jesus quoted Deut. 6:13) |
Perhaps you’ve observed that the temptations are presented in a different sequence in Matthew and Luke; the second and third temptations are reversed, respectively. Despite this, Satan did not first reference Scripture in either of the Gospel accounts. The devil, on the other hand, began his temptation of Jesus by attempting to persuade Jesus to perform a miracle in order to satisfy his own bodily hunger, which he was experiencing because Jesus had been fasting for 40 days (Matt. 4:2). Satan attempted to persuade Jesus to sin by appealing to his physical nature.
Immediately after Satan used Scripture as an example, Jesus answered with another Scripture quotation.
This is also the way we should respond to temptations in our own lives.
As a result, the devil was not deterred by the knowledge that Jesus was the Son of God from enticing even God himself.
If Jesus Could Not Sin What Was the Point of Satan Tempting Him?
“Get away from me, Satan!” Jesus said to him. Because it says in the Bible, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.” (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:10) Following his third temptation in the wilderness, Christ responded in this way to Satan, according to the Bible. Satan must have known that Christ would not sin, yet he attempted to entice Him despite this knowledge. What’s the point? In addition, given that Satan’s attempts were futile, why is this story included in the New Testament?
The Three Temptations
For 40 days and nights, Christ had not eaten a single bite of food. Immediately following his cousin John’s baptism, he withdrew to the desert to be with the Father and to pray for the first time in his life. Satan attempted to demolish the Savior while he was at his most vulnerable. In three points, he challenged Jesus to follow through on his promises: 1. Turn stones into bread by baking them (Matthew 4:3) 2. Jump from the temple’s peak, allowing the angels to rescue Him (Matthew 4:6) 3. Submit to the devil’s will and adore him in exchange for power (Matthew 4:8-9) While Jesus was waiting for the proper temptation, Satan continued to raise the stakes, as if he felt Jesus was merely waiting for the best offer.
The Son was completely and completely obedient to the Father.
Satan’s Purpose
According to one author, Satan attempted to draw Christ away from God’s side, and he “believes he will succeed.” Ultimately, he wants to “somehow murder Jesus” and therefore experience victory over God, presumably as a kind of retribution for having been put into the flaming pits of Hell with his other conspirators as a result of their rebellion. In light of the fact that Jesus was both entirely God and totally man, and so was able to empathize with the reality of human temptation, Satan must have anticipated that He would succumb to His fleshly cravings.
Immanuel was sent “in the shape of sinful flesh,” yet He did not have His heart set on the things of this world.
During Jesus’ baptism, “the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him,” as the Bible describes (Matthew 3:16). Because Christ lived by the Spirit, Satan was unable to entice Him in the body.
God’s Purpose
What is the reader supposed to do in the face of Satan’s futility? And how can we live up to Christ’s sinlessness when we know that if we were subjected to this kind of pressure, we would “likely succumb to it”? Instead than making us feel small, the goal is to empower and educate the reader on how he or she may better resist temptation. According to James 4:7, we have the ability to resist the Devil if we follow Christ’s example and submit to the Lord’s will. Christ is our role model: use the Word to combat the wicked one and adore the Almighty.
- This story occurred because God permitted it, and we may learn from it about how to maintain our composure in the face of temptation, just as God authorized Satan to tempt Job, and Job responded by worshiping the Lord.
- When the Devil persuaded God’s Son to be obedient somewhere else, he offered him the opportunity to take power from and avoid the upcoming hardships at Satan’s side.
- When faced with hunger or exhaustion, believers are more inclined to commit sin.
- As Jesus waits for God to tend to His body, he puts his faith in the Father’s eternal plan and submits to the will of the Father.
- The snake is defeated.
Straight Path in the Wilderness
Utilizing the actual words of God, Matthew 4:1-11 urges Christians to expect and bear evil without succumbing; nevertheless, it also demonstrates how to oppose evil by using the very words of God. Even Christ, rather than presenting some fresh insight, referred to Scripture in order to defend Himself. “I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which may build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified,” Paul remarked in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:32).
“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God,” according to John 1:1, “and the word was God.” While confronting Satan, Christ guards Himself primarily with ― Himself; the unchangeable fact of who He is: the unchangeable I AM.
Twisted Truth
“Christ was the first to reference scripture in His fight with Satan,” according to the Bible, and he did so repeatedly, always opening with the words “It is written.” Today, Satan distorts Scripture in order to confound and deceive us, which is why we must be well-versed in the Scriptures. We make use of the Word of God, which is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), and in doing so, we summon the power of Christ for our protection. “The words of our Lord serve as a model for Satan.” Once Satan grasps the significance of Jesus’ defense, he “seeks to undermine our Lord’s faith in the Father.” Possibly, Satan attempted some “subtle twisting of God’s word,” and “the enemy felt certain that he might destroy our Lord even on scriptural grounds!” Christ, of course, has the upper hand in this situation.
- Not only does the word matter, but so does the speaker.
- “Every word of God hangs in the balance,” says the Son.
- There are a lot of words.
- In the case of those who are “hostile to God,” they are not “submissive to God’s law” (Romans 8:7).
- God had stated that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
- Christ did not prostrate himself before Satan in return for power because Satan has no such power: “Fear the LORD your God, and serve him alone” (Deuteronomy 6:13).
Jesus didn’t need to say anything new since the Father had already said enough via the Torah He provided to Israel when they were wandering in the desert. In Hebrew, the word Deuteronomy literally translates as “Words.”
Self-Defense Classes
When taken out of context, the words of the Lord appear dead and weak. Christ, on the other hand, always understood what the Father was getting at when He said something. He didn’t read the Bible in order to gain something for himself out of it. Rather than testing God, Jesus studied the word in order to put his faith in God. “Pay close attention to appropriate interpretation” and “hide God’s word in your heart so that you might live by it” are some of the advice. This is both our shield and our weapon, so to speak.
iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30 iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30 Candice Lucey is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Jesus shows us how to answer devil’s temptations
Msgr. Joseph Prior is a priest who serves in the Archdiocese of New York. Readings for the First Sunday of Lent, March 1, can be found here. Jesus spends forty days and forty nights in the desert. He is thirsty and hungry. According to St. Matthew, he was driven to the place by the Spirit in order to be tempted by the devil. Jesus fasts and prays in the days leading up to that precise confrontation. He tells us that he was hungry when the tempter came knocking on his door. He was a frail individual.
- Satan’s participation in this passage alludes to an earlier victory for him, which we learn about in the first reading, which is taken from the Book of Genesis.
- They have been created by God, who has breathed life into them in order for them to be able to survive.
- The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were both located in the center of the room.
- The devil takes advantage of this situation.
- She feels a strong longing for the creature’s nourishment.
- She immediately shares it with Adam, and he also partakes of the meal.
- The author then informs us that their “eyes were awakened,” and that instead of seeing the beauty that was once theirs, they now saw their own nakedness and humiliation.
God is the source of life, and he is the creator of all good in the world.
Satan is a bad guy.
He connives, seduces, and plays on the weaknesses and wants of men.
This is exactly what he does.
The decision indicates a shift away from God and toward Satan, from life to death, from grace to sin, and from virtue to vice.
When the Father sends Jesus, he is sent to heal the wounds inflicted on mankind as a result of the choice made by the first people.
It is obvious that this would rob the devil of his previous win, and therefore he attempts to halt the process here.
Even if his temptations are more sophisticated today, the underlying message is the same: move away from the Father and toward me.
When Jesus is confronted with his second temptation, the devil attempts to coerce the Father into saving him (this will have a much greater significance at the end of the Gospel when Jesus has to endure the passion).
All pretenses have been abandoned, and the vile goals of Satan have come to light.
Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness foreshadows the triumph that is about to be achieved.
Satan will return at the same time that Jesus encourages people to reaffirm their commitment to the covenant of love.
Jesus makes the decision to follow the Father and place his faith in his love and loyalty.
According to St.
For just as the disobedience of one man resulted in the sin of the many, the obedience of one will result in the righteousness of the many,” says the Bible.
As Christians, we are reminded that by baptism, we have been linked with Christ Jesus in his death, in order that we can also partake in his resurrection.
Praying, fasting, and giving alms assist to reinforce us so that we might live the life of the baptized, joined with God via the healing powers of those streams of life, united with God.
The activities prepare us to meet the various temptations we may encounter during our lives and to reinforce us when they do occur, allowing us to respond, as Jesus said, “Get away, Satan.” *** The Reverend Msgr.
Joseph Prior is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Penndel. He was previously a professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and a rector there.
Why Satan’s Temptation of Jesus Failed
Dallas Willard contributed to this article. Then the Spirit took Jesus into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. In the midst of his fasting for forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. He was approached by the tempter. Matthew 4:11 – 11 – Jesus, who was brimming with the Holy Spirit, crossed the Jordan and was taken by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days and nights. He didn’t eat anything over those days, and at the end of them, he was starving to death.
- He also didn’t change the stone into a loaf of bread and cram it into Jesus’ mouth like a loaf of bread.
- The only way forward was to make an appeal to Jesus and then wait for Jesus’ response.
- “Who do you believe you are?” was not the question.
- You pip-squeak, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
- Rather than speaking on his own behalf, Jesus chose to answer to Satan by quoting from the Bible.
- “It is written,” the same response was given to each of the three temptations.
- “It has been written.” Satan did not respond with a counter-argument.
The Bible tells us that after the final temptation in the desert, Jesus “withdrew from Him until an appropriate time” (Luke 4:13).
As a matter of fact, you may be certain that Satan was Jesus’ constant companion during his physical existence.
Despite Satan’s complete knowledge of the fact that only Jesus could break his hold on the human world, which is committed to power and deception, and that only Jesus could release human beings from the mud of sin and evil in which they were mired, Satan chose not to do so.
He would ignite a new order that does not rely on the instruments that wicked people use to attempt to protect themselves and gain control of their environment.
In the event that Satan could demonstrate that it was impossible for a flesh-and-blood person to carry out God’s purpose, he would have completed God’s grand mission, which began with creation.
It’s possible that Satan believed that deceiving Jesus might buy him a few more millennia before meeting his inevitable end.
No matter what he expected, he was badly let down by Jesus, who subsequently warned his followers in the Upper Room, shortly before his arrest in Gethsemane, that “the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30).
He wished to be able to enter Jesus’ mind in the same manner that he had entered Eve’s mind in the first place.
Satan had attempted to destroy or divert Jesus from the beginning of his earthly existence, and he had failed.
Satan’s goal was to prevent the redemptive act of crucifixion—the one thing that might open the doors to release humanity from the clutches of evil by proving the strength of good over evil—and he used all of his demonic might to bring Jesus to his knees in defeat.
He did, in fact, shed several droplets of blood as a result of his efforts to resist Satan’s attempts to divert his attention away from the cross.
But this is not how the story is told.
However, in light of who he was and continues to be, we would be making a grave error if we accepted this view.
He wasn’t attempting to get away from the cross.
Following the completion of this task and the clearing of the path to the crucifixion, Jesus was as calm as anybody could possibly be.
Either to see Jesus die as a result of the beating or to provoke Jesus into expressing his miraculous abilities against those who were causing him pain was his ultimate objective.
Fortunately for Satan, Jesus himself was in command of the events and persons involved in the tale, much to his dismay.
“I, when I am hoisted up from the earth, shall pull all people to me,” he said during a watershed moment in his professional life (John 12:32 NRSV).
This was the Trinity’s successful strategy for overthrowing Satan’s authority, and as a result of its success, Jesus now stands peacefully at the heart of the current world, just as he had promised.
To be able to live through and beyond torture and the cross in the life of resurrection demonstrates God’s presence among humanity.
In spite of all the evil in this world, which was tested to the extreme in the events leading up to and nailed upon the cross, Jesus’ fundamental belief about it is that this world is a perfectly good and safe place for anyone to be, no matter the circumstances, if they have placed their lives in the hands of Jesus and his Father.
Even while he was being tortured and killed, Jesus put into practice what he preached.
The passage above is taken from Dallas Willard’s (@DallasAWillard) book, Life Without Want: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23, which can be found here.
Page numbers 83-86.
It is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway, and is titled “Life Without Lack.” About Dallas Willard: From 1965 until his retirement in 2012, he taught philosophy at the University of Southern California’s School of Philosophy, where he had been since 1935.
By becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus, you will be able to study the Bible with confidence and ease. Right now, give it a go!
The First Sunday of Lent: Jesus is tempted in the desert // Faith at Marquette // Marquette University
As one Bible scholar pointed out, if Jesus had not revealed this event to some of his disciples, it would not have been included in the stories of his life and work. He is depicted as being susceptible to the deceptions of Satan. In the aftermath of his baptism, why would Jesus go into the desert for a forty-day retreat? For the same reason, individuals go on retreat: to reflect on who they are, where they are heading, and how they will get there in the best possible way. The blurring of one’s perspective on life occurs as a result of all the noise and bustle of everyday existence.
Matthew 4:1-11
At that point, Jesus was brought into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where he was tempted by the devil. He had fasted for forty days and forty nights and had become hungry as a result. “If you are the Son of God, order that these stones be transformed into loaves of bread,” the tempter said as he approached him and added. “It is written: ‘One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,'” he remarked in response. He was then taken to the sacred city, where the devil forced him to stand on the parapet of the temple and demanded that he throw himself down since he was the Son of God.
“Again, it is stated, you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test,” Jesus said.
It is written: “You shall worship the Lord, your God, and you shall serve him alone,” says the Bible.
Reflection from the Preface of the Mass:
Because of his forty-day fast, this is considered a holy season of self-denial. Choosing to reject Satan’s temptations has taught us to cleanse ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil, and in doing so to eat his paschal feast with purity of heart until we reach the fulfillment of the meal’s completion in the promised land of heaven.
Suggestions for Reflection
- Jesus was tested in the same way that we are. Temptations are not inherently harmful
- Rather, it is how we respond to them that determines whether we turn to God or away from God. Were we tempted by temptations as a means of turning to God rather than relying on our own resources? Is there a difference between the ways Jesus was tempted and the ways we are tempted, or is there a similarity? Satan is inviting Jesus to deny his identity as the Son of God, which is hidden beneath the surface of the various temptations he faces. Temptations, aren’t they, an invitation to abandon the kind of person we want to be and instead turn to unhealthy means of satisfying ourselves? By avoiding the temptations, Jesus opted to depend on his Father to fulfill his deepest hunger, to engage with people in an ordinary way and by not rely on fame, power and things. How can we sate our most insatiable cravings? Do we rely on our position of prominence and power to make ourselves acceptable to others
- And Are we going to utilize the forty days of Lent as a retreat —making time to be more thoughtful and prayer
The Temptations of Christ
While battling the challenges of mortality, there may be moments when we will become exhausted, weaker, and vulnerable to the temptations that seem to be thrown in our path. The narrative of the Savior’s life has a valuable lesson for us today. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert shortly after his baptism, where he spent the rest of his life. He stayed there for forty days and nights, preparing himself for the formal ministry that would begin shortly after. The largest mission that had ever been undertaken on this planet lay ahead of him, and he need heavenly assistance to do it.
When Jesus had finished his forty-day fast and had spent time in prayer with God, he was left in this hungry and physically weakened state to be tempted by the devil.
At such times, we are most exposed to the temptations of the devil, since we are emotionally and physically exhausted, vulnerable to his ideas, and least equipped to reject them.
Satan’s initial temptation was to persuade Jesus to give in to his hunger, which was the most fundamental bodily and biological need of all.
When he asked if he was the Son of God, he was told to “order that these stones be transformed into bread.” (See Matthew 4:3.) After weeks of thought and prayer, the Savior had been nourished by the elevation of spirit that inevitably accompanied such devotion to God and contact with the skies.
Satan was not only attempting to get Jesus to consume anything.
Satan’s temptation was to have him consume in a spectacular manner, taking use of his almighty abilities for his own selfish gain.
When confronted by the tempter, Jesus’ response was unequivocal: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of God’s mouth.” (See Matthew 4:4) After that, there was a second temptation.
In the Holy City, he led Jesus up to the temple’s pinnacle, where he looked down on the expansive courts below and the crowds below, and quoted scripture: “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (See also Matthew 4:6 and Psalm 91:11–12.) Another temptation of the human part of mortal nature lay beneath the surface of Satan’s appeal: the urge to do some brilliant performance, some astonishing achievement that would draw large throngs of startled and interested viewers.
- Jumping from the dizzying heights of the temple turret and landing in the courtyard unharmed would surely qualify as a remarkable achievement.
- It would be a sign and a wonder, and the news of it would spread like wildfire over all of Judaea, leading many to assume that the Messiah had truly arrived on the scene.
- It goes without saying that Jesus responded to scripture for scripture by saying, “Again, it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord your God.” (See also Matthew 4:7 and Deut.
- During his third temptation, the devil abandons all hints of subtlety and scripture, as well as all deception and disguise.
- From the top of a mountain, he revealed to Jesus all of the kingdoms of the earth, as well as their splendor—the towns, the fields, the sheep, the herds, and everything else that nature had to give.
- This was despite the fact that Jesus had led a simple village carpenter’s life.
- In other words, it is the concept that everyone has a price, that material things are ultimately what important, and that you can purchase everything in this world for money in the end.
Accepting the gifts of time or eternity on Satan’s terms is the surest way to forfeit those rewards.
‘Get thee hence, Satan,’ Jesus said, commanding with authority and dignity: “It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only, and him only shalt thou serve.” (See Matthew 4:10) Satan, distraught and dejected, turned and walked away from the scene.
(See Matthew 4:11.) Relief and miracles are experienced by us, just as they were by Jesus, after we have been tested and tempted by our faith in him.
Then, if you are the Son of God, command that these stones be turned into bread.
It was not essential for Jesus to satisfy the curiosity of men, especially unholy men, at that time or any time in the future.
Will we be able to hold our ground?
Even though Satan believes he has lost Jesus, he does not feel he has lost us as well.
As we fight this struggle, we should draw courage from the truth that Christ was triumphant not as a god, but as a human being.
If there had been no potential of his succumbing to Satan’s temptation, there would have been no true test, and no genuine triumph as a consequence.
It was he who had come to protect and preserve the agency of the individual human.
As the apostle Paul wrote, “Though he were a Son, yet learnt he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb.
4:15); and he “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb.
(Heb.
In other words, he was pure and blameless not because he had to be, but rather because it was his obvious and deliberate desire to be so.
We live in a world of temptation—temptation that appears to be more genuine and oppressively prevalent than at any time since the days of Noah and his family.
Every member of this congregation should examine his or her own life and ask himself or herself, “Am I living in such a way that I am remaining unspotted from the ills of the world?” “Classify them, and you will find that nearly every given temptation that makes you and me spotted, ever so little maybe, comes to us as (1) a temptation of the appetite; (2) a yielding to the pride and vanity of those alienated from the things of God; or (3) a gratifying of the passion, or a desire for the ribbing of the ribbing of the ribbing of the ribbing.” Afterwards, he stated, “Now, when do temptations strike?
For one thing, they come to us in our social gatherings, they come to us at our weddings, they come to us in our politics, they come to us in our business relations, on the farm, in the mercantile establishment, in our dealings in all the affairs of life, we find these insidious influences at work, and it is at this point that the defense of truth should exert itself.” (David O.
Most assuredly, The Lord would be delighted with His Saints if they were to stand before the world as a beacon of light that could not be concealed because they are willing to live according to the gospel principles and to observe all of the commandments of the Lord.
While singing, we will recite the words of the Psalmist: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for the Lord is with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Tu preparest a feast before me in the midst of my adversaries, anointest my head with oil, and my cup overfloweth with blessing.” “Surely goodness and mercy will accompany me all the days of my life, and I will live in the home of the Lord for all of eternity,” says the prophet.
(See Psalm 23:4–6.) In the name of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, I hope that this will be our ultimate destiny. Amen.
Lessons from the Temptations of Jesus
Prior to beginning His public ministry, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and then endured a period of tremendous temptation in the desert before entering the city of Jerusalem. These temptations educate us about Jesus, about our adviser, and about the nature of seduction itself. The temptation of Jesus is described in detail throughout the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), but it is fascinating to note the details each writer chooses to include, omit, and emphasize. For example, Mark provides relatively little information, but Matthew delves deeply into the subject matter.
By taking a deeper look at the discrepancies, we may also have a better understanding of the objectives of each author.
Jesus is led into the desert
Immediately after being baptized by John in the Jordan River, Jesus is brought into the desert by the apostle John. The following is what the gospel writers have to say about how Jesus ended up in the desert. Then the Spirit took Jesus into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. He was famished after fasting for forty days and forty nights, according to Matthew 4:1–2. He was immediately dispatched into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where he remained for forty days, being tempted by Satan during that time.
- Jesus, who was brimming with the Holy Spirit, crossed the Jordan and was taken by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days and nights.
- He had not eaten anything throughout those days.
- This is a fascinating fact.
- Mark surprises us by providing so little information while still including an interesting tidbit about wild animals.
- First and foremost, it paints an image of Jesus’ loneliness and vulnerability.
- Mark, on the other hand, want to share something else with us.
- What is the reason behind this?
The significance of 40 days in the wilderness
Jewish readers would have recognized the pattern of testing that occurs prior to a period of public ministry in the book of Isaiah. As Jesus is being tested by the devil, he answers to him using passages from the Book of Deuteronomy in each temptation. Although Jesus mentions Deuteronomy 8:3 in the first temptation, the preceding verse reads as follows:Remember how the Lord your God brought you all the way through the desert for forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was on your heart, whether or not you would obey his laws (Deuteronomy 8:2).
One does not live by bread alone
By the time the tempter appears, Jesus’ body is in desperate need of nourishment. The first temptation is for Jesus to use God’s power to suit his own—very real—needs, and this is the most serious of all. In response, the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become food.” Jesus responded by saying, “The Bible says that man will not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:3–4; emphasis added). In response, the devil replied to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that this stone be turned into bread.” Jesus responded by saying, “It is written in the Bible that “man shall not live by food alone” (Luke 4:3–4).
The Lord humiliated and fed the people of Israel with manna, which neither they nor their ancestors had ever seen before, in order to teach them that man does not live on bread alone, but that he lives on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3).
What can we learn?
With each temptation, Jesus replies with a verse from the Bible. Considering how well we would fare against temptation if we had to rely on our understanding of Deuteronomy alone, much alone the entire Bible, is a difficult issue to pose to ourselves. The disciples encourage Jesus to take a break and eat something at one point in John’s Gospel, but He answers by stating, “I have food to eat that you have no idea what it is.” As a result, the disciples interpret Jesus’ words literally, asking if someone else may have given Him food.
With this temptation, Jesus demonstrates that he is more than just a religious preacher.
Whenever the situation calls for it, we frequently give in to our desire for genuine needs such as approval or love or pleasure because we place them above our desire to please God.
Do not test the Lord
Jesus replies to each temptation with a verse from the Bible. Even if we had to call on our understanding of Deuteronomy, let alone the entire Bible, it’s difficult to imagine how well we would do in the face of temptation. As recorded in John’s Gospel, the disciples encourage Jesus to take a break and consume something, but He answers by stating, “I have stuff to eat that you are completely unfamiliar with.” As a result, the disciples interpret Jesus’ words literally, asking if someone else may have given Him food.
is to accomplish the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:31–34).
Despite his physical demands, he puts God’s will above all else.
Whenever the situation calls for it, we frequently give in to our desire for genuine needs such as approval or love or pleasure because we place them above our desire to please God. When we place the wants of the Lord above our own, it becomes easier to reject the temptations of the devil.
What can we learn?
When it comes to placing oneself in jeopardy to test whether God would come to your rescue, there is nothing particularly appealing about it. However, if you have the ability to perform miracles, it is tempting to consider this as a shortcut to fame and celebrity. This is a precarious balancing act that Jesus performed throughout His mission. He frequently advised individuals to keep their healings to themselves and minimized miracles in order to draw people’s focus away from themselves and onto God.
“Very honestly I tell you, you are searching for me, not because you witnessed the signs I performed, but because you ate the loaves and got your fill,” Jesus says to them (John 6:26).
As a result of the vast number of people who were interested in Jesus, you might assume He would be pleased, but He was extremely deliberate in drawing those who were engaged in the message.
Our greatest intentions to subsequently redirect their focus to God are noble, but as time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid falling back on gimmicks and tactics in order to attract people rather than direct their attention to God.
Anyone can use Scripture
It’s also worth noticing that Satan uses Psalm 91 as a justification for his temptation in this passage. Jesus answers with a verse from the book of Deuteronomy once more (6:16). Consequently, frequent time in God’s Word is extremely vital to us. When we learn more about something and practice it, we get greater insight and discernment, and we become more aware of when others are misusing it as a result of their ignorance or deception.
Worship the Lord and serve Him only
The third temptation (according to Matthew) is based on the desire for more power. Jesus has come to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God, but the devil is attempting to take advantage of the situation. He may easily assume control of all of the kingdoms of the globe if he merely submits to Satan’s will. The devil led him to a very high mountain once more, where he was shown all of the kingdoms of the globe in all of their magnificence. Then he said, “Will you kneel down and worship me?” “All of this I will give you,” he answered.
Because it says in the Bible, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.”” Matthew 4:8–10 is a passage on forgiveness.
And he responded to him by saying, “My power and magnificence will be transferred to you; it has been granted to me, and I have the authority to transfer it to anyone I want.
This is consistent with most of what the New Testament says about Satan’s function in the world:
- The apostle John informs us that Satan has taken possession of the world. According to 1 John 5:19, “We know for certain that we are God’s offspring and that the entire world is under the authority of the wicked one.” Jesus refers to Satan as “the ruler of this world.” Now is the time for judgment to be brought upon this world
- Now the prince of this world will be cast out,” Jesus declares in John 12:31 (also see verses 14:30 and 16:11)
- The apostle Paul refers to him as the “god of this age.” It is said, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel, which shines in the face of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
What can we learn?
The kingdom of God, according to Jesus, is as little as a mustard seed. It developed from a small, inauspicious beginning to become the world’s largest religion. If Jesus had accepted Satan’s invitation to become ruler over the kingdoms of the world, the entire process might have been completed far more quickly. As opposed to starting with a small group of followers, He may simply convert the kingdoms of the world to the Kingdom of God. He could have avoided a lot of cultural opposition if he had done so.
- Thankfully, Jesus had a different perspective.
- We’re frequently presented with options that allow us to reach our destination by taking a potentially risky route.
- When confronted with this temptation, the decision is clear: either worship God or worship Satan.
- We must ensure that we are honoring God by adhering to His rules and regulations in our daily lives.
And the angels attended Him
The devil departs once the temptations have been completed. Jesus is fatigued and hungry, and the gospels of Matthew and Mark inform us that angels have come to take care of the Lord and his followers. Luke wants us to understand that Satan has only left the stage for a little period of time. The devil then left him, and angels appeared and accompanied him (Matthew 4:11). and angels appeared and attended him (Matthew 4:11). (Mark 1:13). When the devil had done enticing him, he withdrew and waited for a suitable opportunity to strike again (Luke 4:13).
Watch the temptations from the “JESUS” film
The gospel of Luke serves as the foundation for this life-changing narrative in the film “JESUS.” Take a look at the scene where the protagonist gets tempted in this pioneering film. You may learn more about Jesus by reading these ” 40 Interesting Facts about Jesus,” or you can watch the complete “JESUS” movie right now!
How to Respond to Temptation and Satan
One thing is certain for every follower of Jesus: we will confront temptation and attempts by the devil to ruin us at some point in our lives. Sometimes our body will entice us or tell us things that are not true, and other times, I believe, satan will try to tell us things that will cause us to lose our focus and lead us away from following Christ and his teachings. Why wouldn’t he attempt to seduce us if he tried to tempt Jesus in the first place? And Jesus, brimming with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, where he was tempted by the devil, as recorded in the book of Matthew.
- And by the time they were through, he was starving.
- To believe that Jesus can actually understand and sympathize with our every need is incredible (Hebrews 4:15-16).
- He is then confronted by Satan, who attempts to entice him.
- Sometimes we believe that temptation is just too much for us and that it will consume us, but let us consider how Jesus answers in this situation.
- Then Jesus said, “It is stated, ‘Man shall not live by food alone,'” he explained.
And after the devil had finished with him and his temptations, he withdrew from him until an appropriate time. The Bible says in Luke 4:3-13
We Have Got To Read The Bible
I understand that it might be difficult to really sit down and spend time with the Lord at times. In reality, it’s a fight; nonetheless, Jesus reminds us of how vital it is to spend time reading the Bible and praying. Jesus replies to each and every question with a verse from the Bible and nothing else. We learn the necessity of reminding ourselves of the truths contained within the Bible, as well as telling Satan and/or anybody else who attempts to entice us or damage our lives, in this video.
- I’m completely worthless
- I have no worth and no purpose in this world
- You can do it since no one is looking. What is the point of all of this in the first place
- Do I really have to waste my time on this? See, I knew it was coming
- I’m a failure. Is it true that I am a follower of Jesus? However, I am in desperate need of this
- What a difference if I had it
- My life would be so much better. I’m stressed out and I’m constantly worrying
It is imperative that we respond to these situations with scripture whenever they occur in our life (and many have most likely already occurred today). If Jesus served as a paradigm for us and He Himself answered to Satan with scripture, why would we assume we would behave any differently? Sometimes we feel that if we have certain techniques or processes in place to deal with temptation, they will be effective. However, nothing will come close to the effectiveness of the Bible itself (Hebrews 4:12).
Allow some of the Scriptures below to be a resource for you as you continue to read and study even more of God’s Word in your spiritual journey with Jesus.
Nevertheless, when you are tempted, He will also give a way out, allowing you to stand firm in the face of it.” In 1 Corinthians 10:13, the Bible says As the Bible says, “But the fruit of the Spirit” is “love,” “joy,” “peace,” “patience,” “kindness,” “goodness,” “faithfulness,” “gentleness,” and “self-control.” There is no prohibition against these things.
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) It was “for our sake that he caused him to be sin who had no knowledge of sin, so that in him we could become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)